Crosby Commons Assisted and Independent Living Community, on the Wesley Village campus in Shelton, recently hosted a caregiver education program, entitled, “Preventing Compassion Fatigue and Burnout”, presented by Gerontologist and CEO, Donna B. Fedus, MA. This free program, offered specifically for social workers, administrators, and other health care professionals, was filled with valuable self-care techniques to help caregivers avoid the dangers of burnout in their mission and commitment to caring for others.

Did you know that individuals over the age of 65 who remove cataracts from their eyes, significantly lower their risk of needing hip replacement surgery? Vision loss is a well-known risk factor for falls and fractures—and while August is Cataract Awareness Month, let’s take a look at the symptoms, risks factors and treatments for cataracts in seniors.

In today’s world of modern technology, seniors can unfortunately become the victims of many damaging scams. Equipping seniors with the tools they need to protect themselves against scams and shady dealers can help them become savvy consumers and shine a spotlight on fraud. National Fraud Awareness Week was introduced in the United States twelve years ago with the goal of proactively preventing and detecting fraud. This important observance will fall this week, from August 4-10, 2013 , and includes an education campaign against scammers who prey on individuals and communities, particularly senior residents who are an increasingly vulnerable group.

What is National Parents’ Day? Many Americans are still unaware of this commemorative day, signed into law in 1994. Compared with the century’s old Mother’s Day or Father’s Day fanfare, Parents’ Day is but a ”baby” yet its establishment was meant to hold a similar stature of recognition, maybe even more so as it joins the two into a family unit.

Depending on where you call home, your assisted living community may be prone to certain natural disasters. Storms, hurricanes, tornados or flooding may occur frequently in your “neck of the woods.” Assisted living communities are required to have disaster plans in place. If you are searching for a community for yourself or a loved one, find out what steps they take to keep residents safe and communicate with families.

A new study conducted by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College shows that senior citizens are one of the most preyed upon users of the internet. Scammers are known to routinely advertise in an effort to fleece older investors. This type of financial fraud can happen over the web, through unscrupulous advertising on the television and in the newspapers, from illegal charity outfits and right within the home.

It is a horrible reality but elder abuse happens. Ageism (discrimination against the elderly) fuels it. And what is most disturbing is that family members are often the perpetrators. There is no one type of elder abuse; it can play out in many ways but is recognized by demeaning verbal attacks, physical violence, sexual assault, neglect and theft.

Your mom or dad is about to be discharged from the hospital or short term rehab, but you just don’t feel they are ready to be home, managing on their own. That’s when a discharge planning checklist becomes necessary. The checklist is your guide to getting questions answered from the medical team that will promote the highest level of after-care outcome for your mom or dad.

How do you know if you are getting a good value for the price? It is not always easy to figure out, especially when it comes to choosing an assisted living community. When you go grocery shopping you can compare apples to apples but even when you compare assisted living communities by similar amenities and price, it is sometimes as clear as mud. How do you make the right decision? Seniors and caregivers have their life savings and financial security at risk. The first thing you must do is determine if you have enough to live comfortably at the community for at least three years. Keep in mind that the average length of stay for a resident is two and a half years so you will want to make sure that you can afford the lifestyle.

Super foods are nutrient-packed powerhouses, yet, even without any solid medical definition, it is common knowledge that people who eat super foods are healthier than others. When you think of super foods, sweet potatoes, blueberries and avocadoes come to mind but there may be as many as 50 or more of these powerful foods around. But let’s focus on five specific groups of super foods recommended for a senior citizen’s diet, primarily to reduce inflammation—the single biggest cause of fatigue and autoimmune disease which overwhelms the body as we age.

Father’s Day is observed every year on the third Sunday in June. How you choose to celebrate your father’s influence on your life may be based on family traditions and culture. This year, financial planners predict an estimated $13.3 billion will be spent in tribute to dads in the USA; no doubt you’ll find a personalized way to show respect and love-- and for caregivers with aging fathers—that may involve taking a trip over to an assisted living community, perhaps with a carload of family members from various generations to pay tribute.